The Return of Michael Douglas, Leading Man

Michael Douglas bears no obvious resemblance to Ronald Reagan, but it's hard not to delight in his being cast as the former president in the upcoming movie Reykjavik, produced by Ridley Scott. We've missed Douglas, and almost without realizing it: Yes, he's popped up recently, as support for the Wall Street sequel and in Steven Soderbergh's Haywire, but not as the star we knew him as in Wonder Boys or The Game or even Basic Instinct.

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Many outlets have pointed out Douglas's liberal politics, but that seems beside the point. At his best, the actor plays oddly lovable assholes in high-pressure situations. Which means, no, this Reagan movie will probably not be fair or balanced, but as we've learned, fair and balanced political movies are usually a bore. Reykjavik has a relatively tight focus — the plot spans a few days during which Reagan met with Gorbachev to talk about peace between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. It plays to Douglas's strength, and not just because some scenes take place in a spa. This is the Reagan presidency as political thriller. Douglas may not shine a light on Reagan's every nuance, but you can bet he'll bring out the character.